Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

There’s nothing ostensibly clandestine about the goings-on at The Garret East. Make your way through the (well marked) doors, and you’ll find the music pumping, the crowds bumping and everyone drinking; in perfectly plain sight. But if — perhaps in a boozy search for the bathroom — you happen to stumble your way past an inconspicuous curtain, you’ll be confronted with a single, discreet buzzer on a wall, enigmatically demanding that you “Push For Food.”

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

If the critically-lauded Harry & Ida’s is any indication, classic Jewish deli fare is ripe for reinvention, with pastrami topped with rounds of buttermilk-fermented cucumber, dried into jerky, or transformed into juicy, shitake mayo-slicked hot dogs…

If you thought the mayhem surrounding Fuku was insane — in the form of up-to-the-minute reports on lines wrapping around 1st Ave. — it can’t hold a candle to the commotion surrounding Superiority Burger and its killer veggie burgers…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Calliope in the East Village was quite well liked; earning high praise from the New Yorker, as well as a starred review from Pete Wells in the New York Times. And yet, it ended up closing after only two years. Fortunately, all is not lost at the gorgeous corner space on East 4th Street, which was quickly transformed into the sunny Italian-bent Contrada…

Northern Tiger has taken possession of the last space in Hudson Eats, offering farm-to-table Chinese fare with an emphasis on dumplings and noodles. And while it’s owned by the team from the similarly seasonally-focused restaurant, Yunnan Kitchen, its very much its own project — refreshing, since the market is mostly occupied by mini chains such as Num Pang, Umami Burger, and Mighty Quinn’s.

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

Stanton Street Kitchen — a brand new Lower East Side eatery — is especially dedicated to the pairing potential of food and beer. So instead of allowing suds to run distant second to vino, it ably treads the line between the two; offering a beer menu as extensive and thoughtfully curated as any wine list…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…

New York’s dining scene is such that it’s simply not enough to advertise yourself as an Italian, Mexican or Thai restaurant nowadays. Instead, we’ve got Venetian, Oaxacan and Isaan eateries, which plumb the hyper-regional fare of countries and cities from around the world…

2015 sure has started off with a bang for Jon Neidich (managing partner of Acme) and Jim Kearns, formerly of the NoMad and Mayahuel. Together, the duo recently launched retro tiki bar, The Happiest Hour, and barely two months later, they teamed up to debut Tijuana Picnic, a modern Mexican cantina and mezcal-focused cocktail lounge on the Lower East Side…

Ramen is so far beyond being a trend, that noteworthy noodle openings are as commonplace as the launch of new local-seasonal restaurants, or wood-burning pizza spots. But the fact that Mu Ramen — which frequently commands several hour waits for a table — is located in Queens? That’s a pretty surefire indication that the borough has finally arrived…